US consulate in Berlin evacuated

Berlin: The U.S. Embassy says its consulate in Berlin has been evacuated as a precaution after an employee reported a strange smell from an envelope.

Spokeswoman Ruth Bennett said the smell came from an envelope containing supporting materials for a visa application given to consular employees by the applicant in person Thursday morning.

There were no reports of injuries and American and German authorities are now examining the contents of the applicant.

Bennett says she has no immediate information on the status of the person who brought the envelope in.

The U.S. Embassy is located in downtown but the consulate is in the southern Zehlendorf area.